Overall Rating	Gold
Overall Score	71.04
Liaison	Natalie Hayes
Submission Date	Oct. 19, 2023

STARS v2.2

Bentley University
OP-10: Biodiversity

Status	Score	Responsible Party
	1.00 / 2.00 This credit is weighted more heavily for institutions that own or manage land that includes or is adjacent to any of the following: Legally protected areas (e.g., IUCN Category I-VI) Internationally recognized areas (e.g., World Heritage, Ramsar, Natura 2000) Priority sites for biodiversity (e.g., Key Biodiversity Areas, Alliance for Zero Extinction sites) Regions of conservation importance (e.g., Endemic Bird Areas, Biodiversity Hotspots, High Biodiversity Wilderness Areas) 2 points are available for this credit if the institution owns or manages land that includes or is adjacent to any of the above. 1 point is available for this credit for all other institutions. Close	Natalie Hayes Associate Director of Sustainability Office of Sustainability

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Does the institution own or manage land that includes or is adjacent to legally protected areas, internationally recognized areas, priority sites for biodiversity, or regions of conservation importance?:

Yes

A brief description of the legally protected areas, internationally recognized areas, priority sites for biodiversity, and/or regions of conservation importance:

Bentley is across Forest Street from the Robert Treat Paine Estate. Called Stonehurst and owned by the City of Waltham, the estate is an icon of American design surrounded by 109 acres of woodlands, meadows and trails. Their mission is to ensure that diverse audiences enjoy, appreciate and draw inspiration from Stonehurst and the legacy of its creators. Bentley University assists in this mission by encouraging student engagement with the trails. Bentley provides a link to Stonehurst on its main website, Bentley.edu, promoting the space as an opportunity for students to enjoy recreation while supporting the local land.
Bentley's link to Stonehurst: https://www.bentley.edu/university-life/athletics-recreation/recreational-fitness
For more information on Stonehurst visit: http://stonehurstwaltham.org/

Also adjacent to Bentley's campus is the Beaver Brook Reservation. The land is owned by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation. In addition to its two ponds, fields, marshes, and waterfall; the park protects the Waverly Oaks, 22 massive and ancient white oak trees.
For more on Beaver Brook Reservation visit: https://web.archive.org/web/20150722002103/http://walthamlandtrust.org/open-space/guide-to-open-spaces/beaver-brook-historic-reservation/beaver-brook-historic-reservation-guide.pdf

Endangered and vulnerable species

Has the institution conducted an assessment to identify endangered and vulnerable species (including migratory species) with habitats on land owned or managed by the institution?:

A list of endangered and vulnerable species with habitats on land owned or managed by the institution, by level of extinction risk:

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Areas of biodiversity importance

Has the institution conducted an assessment to identify areas of biodiversity importance on land owned or managed by the institution?:

Yes

A brief description of areas of biodiversity importance on land owned or managed by the institution:

Bentley has a Massachusetts-certified wetland area on its grounds. This certification required wooded areas, catch basins, and water flow areas to be monitored. The STARTS report also stated that the university adopted the Massachusetts regulations and best practices policy of construction activities within 100 ft of the wetland areas.

Methodologies

If yes to either of the above, provide the following:

The methodologies used to identify endangered and vulnerable species and/or areas of biodiversity importance and any ongoing assessment and monitoring mechanisms:

An assessment was completed to identify Massachusetts certified wetland areas on Bentley's campus. This was done through the city conservation commission.

A brief description of the scope of the assessment(s):

An assessment of the wetlands and most areas of campus were tagged. Bentley received an order of condition that states it must monitor wooded areas, catch basins, and water flow areas to make sure they are clean and kept up.

A brief description of the plans or programs in place to protect or positively affect identified species, habitats, and/or ecosystems:

The university has adopted the Massachusetts regulations and best practices policy of construction activities or other disturbances within 100 feet of the wetland areas. Bentley also fills out a monthly form to be sent to the commission yearly.

Optional Fields

Estimated percentage of areas of biodiversity importance that are also protected areas :

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Website URL where information about the institution’s biodiversity initiatives is available:

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Additional documentation to support the submission:

Stormwater_Management_System.pdf

Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

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